Vibratory device for finishing parts with delivery chute

ABSTRACT

A vibratory device for the surface treatment of parts which makes use of the combination of a conventional continuous vibrator and a discharge chute attached to the outlet opening of the vibrator for independent vibratory action which imparts linear transitory movements to the parts and media processed therethrough.

Umted States Patent [1 1 m1 3,862,519 Van Fossen 1 Jan. 28, 1975 [54] VIBRATORY DEVICE FOR FINISHING 3,338,385 8/1967 Sage 198/220 BA PARTS WITH DELIVERY CHUTE 3,611,638 10/1971 Dcede 51/163 X 3,624,970 12/1971 Ball 51/163 Harvey G. Van Fossen, 54733 Winding Brook Dr., Mishawaka, 1nd. 46544 Filed: June 6, 1973 Appl. No.: 367,359

Related US. Application Data Continuation of Ser. No. 156,699, June 25. 1971, abandoned.

Inventor:

US. Cl. 51/163 Int. Cl B24b 31/00 Field of Search 51/7, 163; 198/220; 193/2;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Simpson 198/220 A Primary Examiner-AI Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-Nicholas P. Godici 57] ABSTRACT A vibratory device for the surface treatment of parts which makes use of the combination of a conventional continuous vibrator and a discharge chute attached to the outlet opening of the vibrator for independent vibratory action which imparts linear transitory movements to the parts and media processed therethrough.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PArEm nJmzems SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG. 2

VIBRATORY DEVICE FOR FINISHING PARTS WITH DELIVERY CHUTE This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 156,699, filed June 25, 1971 now abandoned.

This invention relates to a continuous type vibrator in which parts and media are processed for the cleaning or surface treatment of the parts.

To the present, such continuous vibrators are provided with exit openings which make use of a dam which must be negotiated by the parts and media before delivery. The work pieces or parts congregate at the dam, at which point the parts come into vigorous contact one with another with the result that damage, bending, intertwining, breakage and the like often take place. Further, part to part contact often results in surface damage which renders the parts unsuitable for further processing, such as plating or coating.

It is an object of this invention to provide a vibratory device of the type described from which the parts and media can be discharged as a continuous operation without excessive contact between the parts; which can operate with a wide variation in the dimension or character of the parts to be processed therethrough; in which the rate of flow of the parts through the vibratory device can be varied to avoid damage of the parts, and in which parts of various sizes and dimensions can be processed without damage to the parts.

These and other advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective elevational view of the delivery end portion of a vibratory device embodying the features of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing a modification thereof.

The advantages achieved by the concepts of this invention result from a unique combination of a conventional bowl type vibrator and a discharge chute attached to the bowl by means of a flexible coupling and independently vibrated to impart linear flow to the material that is processed therethrough.

When the vibratory device is operated in the conventional manner, the operation of the discharge chute can be synchronized with the bowl. When running fragile parts or other parts where part to part contact is undesirable, the discharge chute can be operated for a higher rate of flow to accelerate the movement of the parts and media therethrough and prevent their backing up against each other at the exit end of the vibratory bowl.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral 1 represents the bowl of a conventional vibratory device, in which the bowl is resiliently supported on one or more springs 2 or other resilient supports to enable independent vibratory movement in response to an eccentric drive (not shown) connected either to the side of the bowl or alongside the bowl. For a more complete description of the vibratory bowl and elements associated therewith, reference may be made to US. Pat. Nos. 3,093,940, 3,407,542, 3,148,483, 3,213,568 and 3,552,068. In response to such vibratory movement of the bowl, the parts 3 and media 4 travel about the bowl in an orbitol or spiral path, as illustrated by the arrow 5.

It will be understood that the vibratory bowl may be in the form of a circular tub or an elongate trough, as illustrated by the aforementioned issued patents.

In accordance with the practice of this invention, use is made ofa delivery chute 6 mounted in endwise alignment with and independent of the bowl 1 with the inlet end 7 of the chute being connected to the outlet end 8 of the bowl by means of a flexible coupling 9, such as a rubber or rubberized fabric, strip of plastic such as of a polyester resin (Mylar), polycarbonate, polysulfone or the like flexible plastic sheet material. One edge 10 of the coupling 9 is secured to a flange 11 extending outwardly about the outlet opening in the end wall of the bowl while the other edge 12 is secured to the inner edge of the delivery chute. By this construction the delivery chute 6 is isolated from the movements of the bowl 1 whereby a separate vibratory drive 13 can be connected to the underside of the delivery chute to provide for a vibratory movement adapted to impart linear displacement of the parts and media from the inlet end to the outlet end 14 of thedelivery chute.

As illustrated in the drawing, the inlet end 15 of the delivery chute is spaced a short distance from the outlet end of the bowl and the space is spanned by the flexible coupling 9 which is formed with one or more corrugated portions 16 to accommodate the differences between the vibratory movement of the bowl for orbitol displacement of the parts and media and the vibratory movement of the delivery chute for linear displacement of the parts and media flowing across the coupling from the bowl to the delivery chute.

The delivery chute 6 is independently supported on rubber mounts l7, springs or other resilient members which are interposed between longitudinally spaced apart flanged brackets 18, which are secured to opposite sides of the delivery chute, and the top side of a stationary frame 19 having vertically disposed legs 20 which rest on the ground. The vibratory drive 13 is preferably in the form of a variable speed motor 21 having eccentric weights 22 secured to a motor shaft. While a constant speed motor can be used, it is preferred to make use of a variable speed motor or drive so that the frequency of vibration can be increased or decreased thereby correspondingly to increase or decrease the rate of flow of parts and media along the delivery chute.

In operation, the parts and media are continuously fed into the trough-shaped bowl 1 which is vibrated to impart orbitol movement to the parts and media disposed therein as the parts and media are continuously displaced from the inlet end to the outlet opening. As parts and media traverse the flexible coupling during passage from the exit end of the bowl to the inlet end of the delivery chute, their orbitol vibratory movement is terminated and the parts and media are subjected to a vibratory action which effects linear movement with the result that the parts and media travel through the delivery chute with little if any contact one with the other. When the parts that are being processed are fragile and where part to part contact is most undesirable, the frequency of the vibration in the delivery chute can be increased to accelerate the linear movement of parts out of the machine and prevent their backing up against the delivery end of the vibratory bowl.

The width of the delivery chute can be varied, preferably between a width less than the width of the bowl at the delivery end to full bowl width. Whenless than the width at the delivery end, the effect is to provide a dam at the exit end of the bowl which, for some parts, will be satisfactory and in some instances desirable.

The separation between the vibratory movement of the bowl and the delivery chute permits utilization of the vibratory device with a wider variation of parts from the standpoint of size, strength, fragility and the like since the vibratory frequency of the delivery chute can be adjusted to accommodate the specific characteristics of the parts that are being processed.

The movement which is experienced with bowls embodying the features of this invention may be explained by the following:

Example 1 the dam, part to part damage, bending and even break-.

age was unavoidable. Utilization of a delivery chute in combination with the vibratory bowl, in accordance with the practice of this invention, permitted unencumbered delivery of the license plate frames at the prevailing rate of throughfeed without part to part damage, bending, intertwining or breakage. With a dual shaft continuous process vibrator dimensioned to have a length of 100 inches and a width of 24 inches, it was possible to process license plate frames of the type described at a rate of 900 pieces per hour without damage, processed through a device embodying the features of this invention.

Example 2 In the preparation of exterior and interior zinc die cast automobile hardware for plating without buffing, it is known that part to part damage cannot be tolerated anywhere in the in-line processing step. As a result, batch type processing has been ruled out. With a vibratory device embodying the features of this invention, continuous processing has been accomplished at a rate of 800 to 2000 pieces per hour, depending somewhat on size, weight and configuration of the work pieces.

By the ability to control the vibratory frequency in the delivery chute with corresponding control of the movement of the parts and media therethrough, it is possible to reflect this control in the rate that the parts and media are allowed to progress through the vibratory bowl, thus aiding in controlling the time cycle which the parts travel through the length of the bowl as well as through the delivery chute.

In the modification shown in FIG. 2, the flexible coupling 9 is in the form of a continuous flexible member 30 and 32 engaged intermediate its ends by a stationary bracket 34 which is independently supported by a frame member 36. The inner section 30 of the flexible coupling is secured along the inner edge to the bracket 38 fixed to the outlet end of the bowl 1. The outer section 32 of the flexible member is in turn secured along its outer edge to the bracket 40 fixed to the inner end of the chute 6 with the interior faces of the coupling section aligned with the walls of the chute and bowl for the smooth flow of parts and media from the bowl to the vibratory chute, as previously described. I

It will be apparent from the foregoing that continuous bowl type vibrators have been improved to avoid the congestion at the delivery end and to provide for linear movement of the parts as they are delivered from the vibratory bowl to improve the character of the surface treatment of the parts processed therethrough.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement and operation, without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A vibratory device in which parts are processed with media for surface treatment of the parts comprising a bowl mounted for vibratory movement and having an inlet at one end portion and an outlet at another end portion, vibratory means operatively connected to the bowl to cause said parts and media within the bowl to travel about the bowl in an orbitol path, an elongate delivery chute having an outlet at one end and an inlet at the other end in endwise alignment with the outlet of the bowl and linearly spaced therefrom, means mounting the delivery chute for vibratory movement on a stationary support which is independent of the support for the bowl for vibratory movement of the chute independent of the bowl, vibratory means operatively connected to the delivery chute for independent vibratory movement of the chute in a direction for placement of the parts and media along a substantially linear path from the inlet to the outlet, said vibratory means being adjustable for variation of the vibratory movement of the delivery chute to regulate the flow of parts and media thereon independent of the bowl, said delivery chute comprising an elongate member having a bottom wall and vertically disposed side walls, and a flexible coupling connecting the bowl outlet with the delivery chute inlet while permitting independent vibratory movement of the bowl relative to the chute, and in which the vibratory means for the chute comprises an eccentric shaft mounted for rotational movement about an axis which is crosswise of the path of linear movement from the inlet to the outlet of the chute.

2. A vibratory device in which parts are processed with media for surface treatment of the parts comprising a bowl mounted for vibratory movement and having an inlet at one end portion and an outlet at another end portion, vibratory means operatively connected to the bowl to cause said parts and media within the bowl to travel about the bowl in an orbitol path, an elongate delivery chute having an outlet at one end and an inlet at the other end in endwise alignment with the outlet of the bowl and linearly spaced therefrom, means mounting the delivery chute for vibratory movement on a stationary support which is independent of the support for the bowl for vibratory movement of the chute independent of the bowl, vibratory means operatively connected to the delivery chute for independent vibratory movement of the chute in a direction for placement of the parts and media along a substantially linear path from the inlet to the outlet, said vibratory means being adjustable for variation of the vibratory movement of the delivery chute to regulate the flow of parts and media thereon independent of the bowl, said delivery chute comprising an elongate member having a bottom wall and vertically disposed side walls, and a flexible coupling connecting the bowl outlet with the delivery chute inlet while permitting independent vibratory movement of the bowl relative to the chute, in which the vibratory means comprises eccentric shafts mounted for rotational movement with the eccentric shaft imparting vibratory movement to the bowl having its axis extending lengthwise in parallel relation with the bowl, while the eccentric shaft imparting vibratory movement to the chute has its axis perpendicular to the axis of the eccentric shaft for the bowl.

3. A vibratory device as claimed in claim 2 in which the flexible coupling is formed with one or more corrugations in the area between the bowl and delivery chute to accommodate the differences in vibratory movement between the bowl and chute.

4. A vibratory device as claimed in claim 2 in which the delivery chute decreases in width from the inlet end portion to the outlet end portion.

5. A vibratory device as claimed in claim 2 in which the delivery chute has a bottom wall that is inclined in the upward direction from the inlet end portion to the outlet end portion.

6. A vibratory device in which parts are processed with media for surface treatment of the parts comprising a bowl mounted for vibratory movement and having an inlet at one end portion and an outlet at another end portion, vibratory means operatively connected to the bowl to cause said parts and media within the bowl to travel about the bowl in an orbitol path, an elongate delivery chute having an outlet at one end and an inlet at the other end in endwise alignment with the outlet of the bowl and linearly spaced therefrom, means mounting the delivery chute for vibratory movement on a stationary support which is independent of the support for the bowl for vibratory movement of the chute independent of the bowl, vibratory means operatively connected to the delivery chute for independent vibratory movement of the chute in a direction for placement of the parts and media along a substantially linear path from the inlet to the outlet, said vibratory means being adjustable for variation of the vibratory movement of the delivery chute to regulate the flow of parts and media thereon independent of the bowl, said delivery chute comprising an elongate member having a bottom wall and vertically disposed side walls, and a flexible coupling connecting the bowl outlet with the delivery chute inlet while permitting independent vibratory movement of the bowl relative to the chute, in which the flexible coupling includes a bracket engaging the flexible coupling for support, and a separate stationary support for the bracket.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,862, 519 Dated January 28, 1975 Inventor(s) Harvey G. Van Fossen It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Assignee: Wheelabrator-Frye Inc. (Delaware corporation) New York, New York Signed and sealed this 6th day of May 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN .RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks 

1. A vibratory device in which parts are processed with media for surface treatment of the parts comprising a bowl mounted for vibratory movement and having an inlet at one end portion and an outlet at another end portion, vibratory means operatively connected to the bowl to cause said parts and media within the bowl to travel about the bowl in an orbitol path, an elongate delivery chute having an outlet at one end and an inlet at the other end in endwise alignment with the outlet of the bowl and linearly spaced therefrom, means mounting the Delivery chute for vibratory movement on a stationary support which is independent of the support for the bowl for vibratory movement of the chute independent of the bowl, vibratory means operatively connected to the delivery chute for independent vibratory movement of the chute in a direction for placement of the parts and media along a substantially linear path from the inlet to the outlet, said vibratory means being adjustable for variation of the vibratory movement of the delivery chute to regulate the flow of parts and media thereon independent of the bowl, said delivery chute comprising an elongate member having a bottom wall and vertically disposed side walls, and a flexible coupling connecting the bowl outlet with the delivery chute inlet while permitting independent vibratory movement of the bowl relative to the chute, and in which the vibratory means for the chute comprises an eccentric shaft mounted for rotational movement about an axis which is crosswise of the path of linear movement from the inlet to the outlet of the chute.
 2. A vibratory device in which parts are processed with media for surface treatment of the parts comprising a bowl mounted for vibratory movement and having an inlet at one end portion and an outlet at another end portion, vibratory means operatively connected to the bowl to cause said parts and media within the bowl to travel about the bowl in an orbitol path, an elongate delivery chute having an outlet at one end and an inlet at the other end in endwise alignment with the outlet of the bowl and linearly spaced therefrom, means mounting the delivery chute for vibratory movement on a stationary support which is independent of the support for the bowl for vibratory movement of the chute independent of the bowl, vibratory means operatively connected to the delivery chute for independent vibratory movement of the chute in a direction for placement of the parts and media along a substantially linear path from the inlet to the outlet, said vibratory means being adjustable for variation of the vibratory movement of the delivery chute to regulate the flow of parts and media thereon independent of the bowl, said delivery chute comprising an elongate member having a bottom wall and vertically disposed side walls, and a flexible coupling connecting the bowl outlet with the delivery chute inlet while permitting independent vibratory movement of the bowl relative to the chute, in which the vibratory means comprises eccentric shafts mounted for rotational movement with the eccentric shaft imparting vibratory movement to the bowl having its axis extending lengthwise in parallel relation with the bowl, while the eccentric shaft imparting vibratory movement to the chute has its axis perpendicular to the axis of the eccentric shaft for the bowl.
 3. A vibratory device as claimed in claim 2 in which the flexible coupling is formed with one or more corrugations in the area between the bowl and delivery chute to accommodate the differences in vibratory movement between the bowl and chute.
 4. A vibratory device as claimed in claim 2 in which the delivery chute decreases in width from the inlet end portion to the outlet end portion.
 5. A vibratory device as claimed in claim 2 in which the delivery chute has a bottom wall that is inclined in the upward direction from the inlet end portion to the outlet end portion.
 6. A vibratory device in which parts are processed with media for surface treatment of the parts comprising a bowl mounted for vibratory movement and having an inlet at one end portion and an outlet at another end portion, vibratory means operatively connected to the bowl to cause said parts and media within the bowl to travel about the bowl in an orbitol path, an elongate delivery chute having an outlet at one end and an inlet at the other end in endwise alignment with the outlet of the bowl and linearly spaced therefrom, means mounting the delivery chute for vibratory movement on a stationary support which is indepeNdent of the support for the bowl for vibratory movement of the chute independent of the bowl, vibratory means operatively connected to the delivery chute for independent vibratory movement of the chute in a direction for placement of the parts and media along a substantially linear path from the inlet to the outlet, said vibratory means being adjustable for variation of the vibratory movement of the delivery chute to regulate the flow of parts and media thereon independent of the bowl, said delivery chute comprising an elongate member having a bottom wall and vertically disposed side walls, and a flexible coupling connecting the bowl outlet with the delivery chute inlet while permitting independent vibratory movement of the bowl relative to the chute, in which the flexible coupling includes a bracket engaging the flexible coupling for support, and a separate stationary support for the bracket. 